USL El Paso Locomotive FC

El Paso Locomotive End Equal, 2-2, against Austin Bold FC

Published on September 23, 2021 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
El Paso Locomotive FC News Release


EL PASO, Texas - El Paso Locomotive (13-2-8, 47 points) took a point on the road in a 2-2 draw against Austin Bold FC at Bold Stadium on Wednesday. Midfielder Diego Luna and Forward Aaron Gomez scored the two Locomotive goals while Goalkeeper Logan Ketterer made an incredible five saves to earn the point.

The match started with a back and forth as both sides found opportunities with Forward Lucho Solignac twisting at the top of the box to get a shot on frame into the gloves of Austin's Elliot Panicco. Luna nearly earned a breakthrough for El Paso, fending off a multitude of Bold defenders before taking a shot low near post, but once again finding Panicco. In the end, despite the Locomotive majority possession, Bold FC found the opening goal through a leaping header from Stefano Pinho.

In response, El Paso dominated possession against an Austin Bold side that seemed content with the 1-0 win. The aggressive Locomotive prevailed against the cautions Bold team, as Midfielder Sebastian Velasquez paired with Luna in some quick back-and-forth passing to set the 18-year-old midfielder up for a rocket of a shot that found the back of the net. The pressure continued to pay off for El Paso as quick passing to set up a counter that got the ball from Lucho to Gomez. Gomez took one touch to lift it over Panicco and provide Locomotive with a late game lead in the 83rd minute. As it looked like El Paso was set to walk away with the three points and the Copa Tejas, Bold's Guadarrama got away with another header for Austin in the dying seconds to salvage a point, 2-2.

UP NEXT: El Paso Locomotive returns to Southwest University Park to host Real Monarchs for Noche de Locos on Wednesday, September 29. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at eplocomotivefc.com/tickets or by calling 915-235-GOAL. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Noche de Locos Sugar Skull bandana.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

ATX: Stefano Pinho (Alasanne Diouf), 31st minute: Diouf got the ball down the right side at the edge of the penalty area, serving in a pass that flew to the far post where Pinho was able to leap a head above the rest to connect a header. The ball flew into the side of the netting, providing Austin with the advantage in the first half.

ELP: Diego Luna (Sebastian Velasquez), 70th minute: Diego Luna and Sebastian Velasquez played off one another perfectly as the two connected a series of passes around the Austin Bold packed in defense, eventually setting Luna to take a shot on goal. The shot from distance carried velocity to rip into the back netting.

ELP: Aaron Gomez (Lucho Solignac), 83rd minute: In a fast sequence of passing Lucho Solignac was able to get the ball forward into the path of Aaron Gomez, running between two defenders. As Bold Goalkeeper Elliot Panicco rushed out to collect, Gomez tipped the ball over allowing it to roll in over the goal line for a Locomotive lead.

ATX: Sonny Guadarrama, 94th minute: Just as it seemed a certainty for Locomotive to walk away with the full three points, Sonny stepped over the ball for a freekick opportunity, which he took to the far post hitting the side net for the equalizing goal.

NOTES:

- Diego Luna found his sixth of the season, finding the back of the net in the same venue he found his first professional goal earlier this year.

- Aaron Gomez added to his goal scoring tally, making for a club-leading 17 goals through the regular season since joining Locomotive in 2019.

- The Copa Tejas fight is still alive, though by barely. Locomotive has 19 points with 3 games remaining in the round-robin tournament while Austin Bold sits at 13 points with 2 games remaining.

- Locomotive has another opportunity to claim the Copa Tejas on October 6 when it hosts San Antonio FC. Los Locos would need either a draw or a win to claim the fan-created trophy.

Match: El Paso Locomotive at Austin Bold FC

Date: September 22, 2021

Venue: Bold Stadium; Austin, Texas

Weather: 78F and clear skies

Scoring Summary 1 2 F

El Paso Locomotive FC 0 2 2

Austin Bold FC 1 1 2

ATX - Stefano Pinho (Alasanne Diouf), 31'

ELP - Diego Luna (Sebastian Velasquez), 70'

ELP - Aaron Gomez (Lucho Solignac), 83'

ATX - Sonny Guadarrama, 90'+4

Lineups:

El Paso Locomotive FC (4-4-2): Logan Ketterer; Eder Borelli, Andrew Fox, Mechack Jerome, Macca King, Richie Ryan (Aaron Gomez, 62'), Nick Ross, Diego Luna (Leandro Carrijo, 84'), Dylan Mares (Bryam Rebellon, 69'), Lucho Solignac (Jose Aguinaga, 84'), Sebastian Velasquez

Subs not used: Ben Beaury, Ricardo Zacarias, Chapa Herrera

Switchbacks FC (4-2-3-1): Elliot Panicco; Jermaine Taylor, Fabien Garcia (Alasanne Diouf, 14'), Gustavo Rissi, Kofi Sarkodie (Josue Soto, 84'), Juan Torres (Omar Ciss, 76'), Xavier Baez (Nathaniel Adamolekun, 76'), Collin Fernandez, Amobi Okugo, Roberto Avila, Stefano Pinho (Sonny Guadarrama, 76')

Subs not used: Casey Walls, Hugo Fauroux

Stats Summary: ELP | ATX

Shots: 11 | 14

Shots on Goal: 7 | 7

Saves: 5 | 5

Corner Kicks: 3 | 3

Fouls: 10 | 19

Offside: 3 | 2

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

ATX - Jermaine Taylor (Caution), 34'

ATX - Amobi Okugo (Caution), 56'

ELP - Richie Ryan (Caution), 57'

ELP - Macca King (Caution), 66'

ATX - Omar Ciss (Caution), 90'+1

Check out the El Paso Locomotive FC Statistics

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 23, 2021


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